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Thread summary:

Pedestrian threats, intentionally stepping in front of bike on Beatties Ford, pedestrian or bike friendly, bike muggings, public transportation, safe bike travels, car alternative

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Old 12-17-2008, 11:01 AM
 
Location: charlotte nc
15 posts, read 28,833 times
Reputation: 15

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i've been having some situations in my neck of the woods and wanted to reach out to the cops to get some feedback...what i got was less than impressive....much less satisfactory.

this is an email to:
CMPD North Division Commander:
Captain Gregg Collins
Phone: 704.432.3801

after i sent the email, i finally got someone on the phone at that number.
in that braindead tone you only get from public servants, whoever it was who answered the phone confirmed that police reports are public record and my only recourse.
i had explained that i didn't want to give my home address to people that i know aren't scared to mess with people in crowded situations, although he didnt share my concern.

i mean, if i'm traveling at say 30mph with gloves and helmet on, i have to stop somewhere safe (on beatties ford?), dail the cops and fill out a report.
i have to hope that i don't get accosted while i'm waiting there with a nice shiny scooter and keys.
*then* i have to hand over my address to a guy who has no problem acting out like this in very crowded circumstances.

i'm thinking of a pepper spray gun AND baton hanging from the inside basket of the scooter to knock down *******s all by myself and just keep ridin.

read, enjoy, respond...


thanks!





Begin forwarded message:

From:
Date: December 17, 2008 11:45:28 AM EST
To: gcollins@cmpd.org
Subject: pedestrians threatening & intentionally stepping in front of my bike on beatties ford.

hi and thanks for your time:

i live near the corner of beatties ford rd. & mt holly-huntersville rd.
weather permitting, i frequently use my scooter to go downtown for work and errands.
i'm not really fond of going down beatties ford to trade, but it's the most direct route into civilization for me.
i ride in the left lane and watch very carefully what's going on in my surroundings down there.
it seems like as much of a social center as anything else, so people *really* don't pay attention...so i'm always on the lookout.

since september, i've had at least 3 bad, and possibly very dangerous, occurrences in the stretch between I-85 and Johnson C Smith U...in broad daylight.

the first thing was as i was on beatties ford crossing the Brookshire overpass.
a group of young black guys were walking on the sidewalk to the right hand side of me, in my direction....far enough ahead that they saw me headed their way.
at about 30 yards, of them steps in front of me and raises his arm like he's gonna sweep or punch at me.
i went to the left of the lane and went around the guy.
i just went on my way, totally bewildered....i wrote it off as an oddity.

the very next day, i'm riding back home and sitting at the stoplight at the corner of JC Smith waiting to turn right on beatties ford.
it's a busy, sunny day and there are cars all around me waiting for the light.
a group of guys jaywalk all around me and one of them gets my attention talking trash and says something like "i almost knocked your ass off *yesterday*"
i didnt say anything but i turned to look at the guy on the sidewalk over my right shoulder, and when i looked back straight ahead, one of them was directly in front of me leaning in my face and gave me a quick "BOO".
obviously then i was sure these guys aren't scared to act out in front of a lot of people.

yesterday, i was headed into town and i had another instance of a guy stepping out in front of me at about 30 yards acting like he was gonna punch me off my moving scooter....right around Atando.
i'm not sure if it was the same guy or not.
when these things happen now, my first concern is staying on 2 wheels and not getting run over.
i got to the corner of beatties ford and rozzelles ferry and pulled up next to a police cruiser and i told them what's been happening to me.
i gave them a weak description of the guy and they said they'd go check it out.

this is situation i feel pretty certain is going to happen to me again, pretty much at any time.
if i file a proper police report like i'd want to do, i'm fairly certain that having my home address handed over so a crazy moron can pay me a visit is not something i am interested in.

my other non-interstate routes into town include statesville and freedom.

what kind of feedback can you give me?

if you'd like to speak to me or have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me.

thank you~!

Last edited by lhrs; 12-17-2008 at 11:02 AM.. Reason: spelling
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Old 12-17-2008, 11:13 AM
 
Location: North Carolina
6,957 posts, read 8,454,553 times
Reputation: 6777
If I were you, I'd pull out my newly purchased Glock and say to the guy that made the comment to you, "Gee, I nearly shot you yesterday"! Maybe you have to become "Dirty Harry" on a bike!
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Old 12-17-2008, 11:25 AM
 
Location: State of Being
35,879 posts, read 77,204,447 times
Reputation: 22751
That area is not pedestrian or bike friendly. And the guys you are encountering are thugs (or at least, thuglettes). If you have a baton and take a swat, you will be dealing w/ a gang of thugs on top of you in about 3 seconds flat. If you pull a gun, I suspect they will all pull theirs, only they will shoot first.

The police are not going to be there when you need them, and they can't do squat w/o an incident occurring. I mean - what are they gonna do? Stop the guys and tell them "Now that wasn't nice?" These are anti-social guys who have lots of hate and would just as soon knock your arse on the ground and steal your bike (or just damage it for the fun of it).

You do not have a choice. Either you don't use that route or you drive a car. Plain and simple.
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Old 12-17-2008, 11:31 AM
 
Location: North Carolina
6,957 posts, read 8,454,553 times
Reputation: 6777
Quote:
Originally Posted by anifani821 View Post
That area is not pedestrian or bike friendly. And the guys you are encountering are thugs (or at least, thuglettes). If you have a baton and take a swat, you will be dealing w/ a gang of thugs on top of you in about 3 seconds flat. If you pull a gun, I suspect they will all pull theirs, only they will shoot first.

The police are not going to be there when you need them, and they can't do squat w/o an incident occurring. I mean - what are they gonna do? Stop the guys and tell them "Now that wasn't nice?" These are anti-social guys who have lots of hate and would just as soon knock your arse on the ground and steal your bike (or just damage it for the fun of it).

You do not have a choice. Either you don't use that route or you drive a car. Plain and simple.
ani - It seems like there's not much difference in that location between Charlotte and Baghdad!
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Old 12-17-2008, 11:34 AM
 
Location: New Jersey
1,181 posts, read 3,050,209 times
Reputation: 464
Quote:
Originally Posted by anifani821 View Post
That area is not pedestrian or bike friendly. And the guys you are encountering are thugs (or at least, thuglettes). If you have a baton and take a swat, you will be dealing w/ a gang of thugs on top of you in about 3 seconds flat. If you pull a gun, I suspect they will all pull theirs, only they will shoot first.

The police are not going to be there when you need them, and they can't do squat w/o an incident occurring. I mean - what are they gonna do? Stop the guys and tell them "Now that wasn't nice?" These are anti-social guys who have lots of hate and would just as soon knock your arse on the ground and steal your bike (or just damage it for the fun of it).

You do not have a choice. Either you don't use that route or you drive a car. Plain and simple.
You're absolutely right.

I wanted to say the same thing, but didn't have the heart to lay it on the line.
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Old 12-17-2008, 11:35 AM
 
Location: southern california
61,289 posts, read 87,188,930 times
Reputation: 55551
Quote:
Originally Posted by lhrs View Post
i've been having some situations in my neck of the woods and wanted to reach out to the cops to get some feedback...what i got was less than impressive....much less satisfactory.

this is an email to:
CMPD North Division Commander:
Captain Gregg Collins
Phone: 704.432.3801

after i sent the email, i finally got someone on the phone at that number.
in that braindead tone you only get from public servants, whoever it was who answered the phone confirmed that police reports are public record and my only recourse.
i had explained that i didn't want to give my home address to people that i know aren't scared to mess with people in crowded situations, although he didnt share my concern.

i mean, if i'm traveling at say 30mph with gloves and helmet on, i have to stop somewhere safe (on beatties ford?), dail the cops and fill out a report.
i have to hope that i don't get accosted while i'm waiting there with a nice shiny scooter and keys.
*then* i have to hand over my address to a guy who has no problem acting out like this in very crowded circumstances.

i'm thinking of a pepper spray gun AND baton hanging from the inside basket of the scooter to knock down *******s all by myself and just keep ridin.

read, enjoy, respond...


thanks!





Begin forwarded message:

From:
Date: December 17, 2008 11:45:28 AM EST
To: gcollins@cmpd.org
Subject: pedestrians threatening & intentionally stepping in front of my bike on beatties ford.

hi and thanks for your time:

i live near the corner of beatties ford rd. & mt holly-huntersville rd.
weather permitting, i frequently use my scooter to go downtown for work and errands.
i'm not really fond of going down beatties ford to trade, but it's the most direct route into civilization for me.
i ride in the left lane and watch very carefully what's going on in my surroundings down there.
it seems like as much of a social center as anything else, so people *really* don't pay attention...so i'm always on the lookout.

since september, i've had at least 3 bad, and possibly very dangerous, occurrences in the stretch between I-85 and Johnson C Smith U...in broad daylight.

the first thing was as i was on beatties ford crossing the Brookshire overpass.
a group of young black guys were walking on the sidewalk to the right hand side of me, in my direction....far enough ahead that they saw me headed their way.
at about 30 yards, of them steps in front of me and raises his arm like he's gonna sweep or punch at me.
i went to the left of the lane and went around the guy.
i just went on my way, totally bewildered....i wrote it off as an oddity.

the very next day, i'm riding back home and sitting at the stoplight at the corner of JC Smith waiting to turn right on beatties ford.
it's a busy, sunny day and there are cars all around me waiting for the light.
a group of guys jaywalk all around me and one of them gets my attention talking trash and says something like "i almost knocked your ass off *yesterday*"
i didnt say anything but i turned to look at the guy on the sidewalk over my right shoulder, and when i looked back straight ahead, one of them was directly in front of me leaning in my face and gave me a quick "BOO".
obviously then i was sure these guys aren't scared to act out in front of a lot of people.

yesterday, i was headed into town and i had another instance of a guy stepping out in front of me at about 30 yards acting like he was gonna punch me off my moving scooter....right around Atando.
i'm not sure if it was the same guy or not.
when these things happen now, my first concern is staying on 2 wheels and not getting run over.
i got to the corner of beatties ford and rozzelles ferry and pulled up next to a police cruiser and i told them what's been happening to me.
i gave them a weak description of the guy and they said they'd go check it out.

this is situation i feel pretty certain is going to happen to me again, pretty much at any time.
if i file a proper police report like i'd want to do, i'm fairly certain that having my home address handed over so a crazy moron can pay me a visit is not something i am interested in.

my other non-interstate routes into town include statesville and freedom.

what kind of feedback can you give me?

if you'd like to speak to me or have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me.

thank you~!
bike muggings are up nationwide.
its not a locked ford escort when you go out into the public you are vulnerable. in the last 40 years our streets got very mean, we did not notice bek we are all in cars.
all this hype bout public transport construction, forget that.
france has got the same problem. its got public transport and bikes
but they are no longer safe to use.
i put my bike up a driver almost nailed me 2 months ago.
the bad news if you retaliate and hurt these guys
i guarantee the law will punish you not them.
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Old 12-17-2008, 11:38 AM
 
Location: State of Being
35,879 posts, read 77,204,447 times
Reputation: 22751
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheEmissary View Post
ani - It seems like there's not much difference in that location between Charlotte and Baghdad!
Em, sadly, that is one area I would not be found walking, regardless of time of day . . . and I would be afraid some thug would grab my bike/scooter and try to either physically harm me or steal my bike if I had to travel that route.

You just have to avoid some places here. Is it right? No. Is it fair? No. But the point is - IS IT SAFE? No it isn't. Not when you have predatory thugs hanging around who have nothing better to do than target people w/ their anger.
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Old 12-17-2008, 11:43 AM
 
Location: Way up high
22,196 posts, read 29,224,809 times
Reputation: 31258
I second that. Get a car or get another route. Plain and simple
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Old 12-17-2008, 11:44 AM
 
Location: southern california
61,289 posts, read 87,188,930 times
Reputation: 55551
Quote:
Originally Posted by anifani821 View Post
Em, sadly, that is one area I would not be found walking, regardless of time of day . . . and I would be afraid some thug would grab my bike/scooter and try to either physically harm me or steal my bike if I had to travel that route.

You just have to avoid some places here. Is it right? No. Is it fair? No. But the point is - IS IT SAFE? No it isn't. Not when you have predatory thugs hanging around who have nothing better to do than target people w/ their anger.
americans handle their criminals like they handle their naughty children, they don't.
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Old 12-17-2008, 11:46 AM
 
Location: Up above the world so high!
45,218 posts, read 100,428,182 times
Reputation: 40197
Quote:
Originally Posted by lhrs View Post
i've been having some situations in my neck of the woods and wanted to reach out to the cops to get some feedback...what i got was less than impressive....much less satisfactory.

this is an email to:
CMPD North Division Commander:
Captain Gregg Collins
Phone: 704.432.3801

after i sent the email, i finally got someone on the phone at that number.
in that braindead tone you only get from public servants, whoever it was who answered the phone confirmed that police reports are public record and my only recourse.
i had explained that i didn't want to give my home address to people that i know aren't scared to mess with people in crowded situations, although he didnt share my concern.

i mean, if i'm traveling at say 30mph with gloves and helmet on, i have to stop somewhere safe (on beatties ford?), dail the cops and fill out a report.
i have to hope that i don't get accosted while i'm waiting there with a nice shiny scooter and keys.
*then* i have to hand over my address to a guy who has no problem acting out like this in very crowded circumstances.

i'm thinking of a pepper spray gun AND baton hanging from the inside basket of the scooter to knock down *******s all by myself and just keep ridin.

read, enjoy, respond...


thanks!





Begin forwarded message:

From:
Date: December 17, 2008 11:45:28 AM EST
To: gcollins@cmpd.org
Subject: pedestrians threatening & intentionally stepping in front of my bike on beatties ford.

hi and thanks for your time:

i live near the corner of beatties ford rd. & mt holly-huntersville rd.
weather permitting, i frequently use my scooter to go downtown for work and errands.
i'm not really fond of going down beatties ford to trade, but it's the most direct route into civilization for me.
i ride in the left lane and watch very carefully what's going on in my surroundings down there.
it seems like as much of a social center as anything else, so people *really* don't pay attention...so i'm always on the lookout.

since september, i've had at least 3 bad, and possibly very dangerous, occurrences in the stretch between I-85 and Johnson C Smith U...in broad daylight.

the first thing was as i was on beatties ford crossing the Brookshire overpass.
a group of young black guys were walking on the sidewalk to the right hand side of me, in my direction....far enough ahead that they saw me headed their way.
at about 30 yards, of them steps in front of me and raises his arm like he's gonna sweep or punch at me.
i went to the left of the lane and went around the guy.
i just went on my way, totally bewildered....i wrote it off as an oddity.

the very next day, i'm riding back home and sitting at the stoplight at the corner of JC Smith waiting to turn right on beatties ford.
it's a busy, sunny day and there are cars all around me waiting for the light.
a group of guys jaywalk all around me and one of them gets my attention talking trash and says something like "i almost knocked your ass off *yesterday*"
i didnt say anything but i turned to look at the guy on the sidewalk over my right shoulder, and when i looked back straight ahead, one of them was directly in front of me leaning in my face and gave me a quick "BOO".
obviously then i was sure these guys aren't scared to act out in front of a lot of people.

yesterday, i was headed into town and i had another instance of a guy stepping out in front of me at about 30 yards acting like he was gonna punch me off my moving scooter....right around Atando.
i'm not sure if it was the same guy or not.
when these things happen now, my first concern is staying on 2 wheels and not getting run over.
i got to the corner of beatties ford and rozzelles ferry and pulled up next to a police cruiser and i told them what's been happening to me.
i gave them a weak description of the guy and they said they'd go check it out.

this is situation i feel pretty certain is going to happen to me again, pretty much at any time.
if i file a proper police report like i'd want to do, i'm fairly certain that having my home address handed over so a crazy moron can pay me a visit is not something i am interested in.

my other non-interstate routes into town include statesville and freedom.

what kind of feedback can you give me?

if you'd like to speak to me or have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me.

thank you~!

I don't think you understand how stupid what you are doing is. I don't care if this is the "most direct route" - it's also the most dangerous. That area is the 'hood plain and simple - find a new route.
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